Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. New Living Translation He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. English Standard Version Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” Berean Standard Bible So He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” “No,” they answered. Berean Literal Bible Therefore Jesus says to them, "Children do you have any food?" They answered Him, "No." King James Bible Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. New King James Version Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” New American Standard Bible So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish to eat, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” NASB 1995 So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” NASB 1977 Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” Legacy Standard Bible So Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered Him, “No.” Amplified Bible So Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish [to eat along with your bread]?” They answered, “No.” Christian Standard Bible “Friends,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you? ” “No,” they answered. Holman Christian Standard Bible “Men,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?"” No,” they answered. American Standard Version Jesus therefore saith unto them, Children, have ye aught to eat? They answered him, No. Contemporary English Version Jesus shouted, "Friends, have you caught anything?" "No!" they answered. English Revised Version Jesus therefore saith unto them, Children, have ye aught to eat? They answered him, No. GOD'S WORD® Translation Jesus asked them, "Friends, haven't you caught any fish?" They answered him, "No, we haven't." Good News Translation Then he asked them, "Young men, haven't you caught anything?" "Not a thing," they answered. International Standard Version Jesus asked them, "Children, you don't have any fish, do you?" They answered him, "No." NET Bible So Jesus said to them, "Children, you don't have any fish, do you?" They replied, "No." New Heart English Bible Jesus therefore said to them, "Children, have you anything to eat?" They answered him, "No." Webster's Bible Translation Then Jesus saith to them, Children, have ye any victuals? They answered him, No. Weymouth New Testament He called to them. "Children," He said, "have you any food there?" "No," they answered. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” “No,” they answered. World English Bible Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionJesus, therefore, says to them, “Boys, do you have any meat?” Berean Literal Bible Therefore Jesus says to them, "Children do you have any food?" They answered Him, "No." Young's Literal Translation Jesus, therefore, saith to them, 'Lads, have ye any meat?' Smith's Literal Translation Then says Jesus to them, Children, have ye nothing cooked to eat? They answered him, No. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleJesus therefore said to them: Children, have you any meat? They answered him: No. Catholic Public Domain Version Then Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any food?” They answered him, “No.” New American Bible Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” New Revised Standard Version Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSo Jesus said to them, Boys, have you got anything to eat? They said to him, No. Aramaic Bible in Plain English And Yeshua said to them, “Lads, do you have anything to eat?” They said to him, “No.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentThen Jesus said to them: Children, have you any food? They answered him: No. Godbey New Testament Then Jesus says to them; Haweis New Testament Then saith Jesus unto them, My youths, have ye any thing eatable? They answered him, No. Mace New Testament then said Jesus, my lads, have ye any fish? Weymouth New Testament He called to them. "Children," He said, "have you any food there?" "No," they answered. Worrell New Testament Jesus, therefore, saith to them, Worsley New Testament Then Jesus saith unto them, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jesus Appears by the Sea of Tiberias…4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus. 5So He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6He told them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it there, and they were unable to haul it in because of the great number of fish.… Cross References Luke 5:4-6 When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” / “Master,” Simon replied, “we have worked hard all night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.” / When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to tear. Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Mark 1:17 “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” John 6:5-9 When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?” / But He was asking this to test him, for He knew what He was about to do. / Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece.” ... John 15:5 I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. Luke 24:41-43 While they were still in disbelief because of their joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” / So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish, / and He took it and ate it in front of them. Matthew 14:15-21 When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” / “They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.” / “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. ... Mark 6:37-44 But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked Him, “Should we go out and spend two hundred denarii to give all of them bread to eat?” / “Go and see how many loaves you have,” He told them. And after checking, they said, “Five—and two fish.” / Then Jesus directed them to have the people sit in groups on the green grass. ... John 6:35 Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst. John 4:31-34 Meanwhile the disciples urged Him, “Rabbi, eat something.” / But He told them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” / So the disciples asked one another, “Could someone have brought Him food?” ... Luke 9:13-17 But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.” / (There were about five thousand men.) He told His disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” / They did so, and everyone was seated. ... Matthew 17:27 “But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.” 1 Kings 17:12-16 But she replied, “As surely as the LORD your God lives, I have no bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. Look, I am gathering a couple of sticks to take home and prepare a meal for myself and my son, so that we may eat it and die.” / “Do not be afraid,” Elijah said to her. “Go and do as you have said. But first make me a small cake of bread from what you have, and bring it out to me. Afterward, make some for yourself and your son, / for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be exhausted and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain upon the face of the earth.’” ... 2 Kings 4:42-44 Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha. / But his servant asked, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?” “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha, “for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” / So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD. Genesis 22:7-8 Then Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” “Here I am, my son,” he replied. “The fire and the wood are here,” said Isaac, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” / Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two walked on together. Treasury of Scripture Then Jesus said to them, Children, have you any meat? They answered him, No. Children. 1 John 2:13,18 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father… have. Psalm 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Luke 24:41-43 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? … Philippians 4:11-13,19 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content… Jump to Previous Aught Children Eat Fish Food Friends Jesus Lads Meat VictualsJump to Next Aught Children Eat Fish Food Friends Jesus Lads Meat VictualsJohn 21 1. Jesus appearing again to his disciples is known of them by the great catch of fish.12. He dines with them; 15. earnestly commands Peter to feed his lambs and sheep; 18. foretells him of his death; 22. rebukes his curiosity. 24. The conclusion. So He called out to them This phrase indicates Jesus initiating contact with His disciples. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples multiple times, often unexpectedly. This setting is by the Sea of Galilee, a familiar place for the disciples, many of whom were fishermen. Jesus calling out to them from the shore mirrors His earlier interactions with them, such as when He first called them to be "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). This calling out signifies His continued guidance and leadership. “Children, do you have any fish?” “No,” they answered. Persons / Places / Events 1. JesusThe resurrected Christ who appears to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He is the central figure, providing guidance and revealing His divine nature. 2. Disciples Specifically, Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee (James and John), and two other disciples are present. They are fishing when Jesus appears to them. 3. Sea of Tiberias Also known as the Sea of Galilee, this is the location where the disciples are fishing and where Jesus appears to them. 4. Fishing Event The disciples are fishing without success until Jesus instructs them, leading to a miraculous catch. Teaching Points Obedience to Christ's CommandsThe disciples' success came when they followed Jesus' instructions. This teaches the importance of obedience to Christ in our daily lives. Recognition of Jesus' Presence Initially, the disciples did not recognize Jesus. We must be attentive to His presence and guidance in our lives, even when it is not immediately apparent. Dependence on Divine Provision The disciples' inability to catch fish on their own highlights our need to rely on God's provision rather than our own efforts. Transformation through Encounter The encounter with Jesus transforms a fruitless night into a miraculous morning. Our encounters with Christ can transform our lives and circumstances. Community and Fellowship The disciples were together when they encountered Jesus. This underscores the importance of community and fellowship in the Christian journey. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of John 21:5?2. How does Jesus' question in John 21:5 reveal His care for the disciples? 3. What can we learn about obedience from the disciples' response in John 21:5? 4. How does John 21:5 connect to Jesus' provision in Matthew 6:31-33? 5. How can we apply Jesus' approach in John 21:5 to our daily interactions? 6. What does John 21:5 teach about recognizing Jesus' presence in our lives? 7. What is the significance of Jesus asking, "Children, do you have any fish?" in John 21:5? 8. How does John 21:5 reflect Jesus' relationship with His disciples after the resurrection? 9. Why does Jesus address the disciples as "children" in John 21:5? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from John 21? 11. How did Jesus feed 5,000 people with limited food? 12. What were Jesus' characteristics and personality like? 13. Was John the Baptist Elijah? (Matthew 11:14 vs. John 1:21) 14. What did Jesus pray for during His ministry? What Does John 21:5 Mean So He called out to them• Jesus is the One initiating contact, just as He first loved us (1 John 4:19). • His voice breaks the pre-dawn stillness, reminding us that the Shepherd always seeks His flock (John 10:27; Ezekiel 34:11). • The moment recalls an earlier lakeside encounter where He also called the disciples from their boat (Luke 5:4–6), showing His consistent care and purpose. “Children,” • The term is tender, familial, and authoritative—much like a parent guiding a household (1 John 2:1). • Jesus speaks to grown men yet addresses them as dependent sons, underscoring their need for Him (John 15:5). • By using a family term rather than “friends” or “servants,” He signals ongoing relationship even after their recent failure and His crucifixion (John 20:19). “do you have any fish?” • The question is rhetorical for the all-knowing Christ (John 2:24-25), but it invites the disciples to admit their emptiness. • It exposes the futility of self-reliance; an entire night’s labor produced nothing (Psalm 127:1). • This sets the stage for a miracle, illustrating that genuine fruitfulness comes only through obedience to Him (John 21:6; cf. Luke 5:6). “No,” they answered • Their one-word reply is honest and humble, free of excuses. God honors such transparency (Psalm 51:17; Proverbs 28:13). • The admission prepares them for Jesus’ provision, just as confession precedes cleansing (1 John 1:9). • Their empty nets mirror every human heart apart from Christ—void until He fills (Ephesians 2:12-13). summary John 21:5 shows Jesus initiating, addressing, probing, and preparing. He lovingly calls His disciples “Children,” exposes their lack with a simple question, and receives their candid “No” so He can supply abundance. The verse invites believers to hear His voice, confess our insufficiency, and trust His gracious provision. (5) Children, have ye any meat?--The word rendered "Children" (or, as the margin has it, Sirs), is used in addressing others only by St. John among the New Testament writers (1John 2:13; 1John 2:18). It is not the word used in John 13:33, where we have an expression denoting His affectionate tenderness for the disciples, which would not have been appropriate here, for He does not at once reveal His identity to them. It is a word which, indeed, may express His love for them (comp. John 4:49), but which appears also to have been used as an address to workmen or inferiors, not unlike our own words "boys" or "lads." They seem to take it in this sense, as though some traveller passing by asked the question because he wished to purchase some of their fish.The word rendered "meat" occurs here only in the New Testament. It means anything eaten with bread, and was used as equivalent to the fish which was the ordinary relish. (Comp. Note on John 6:9.) . . . Verses 5, 6. - Jesus therefore saith unto them. They failed to recognize his first appearance, so he permits them to hear the voice which had often poured such music into their ears. Children; not τεκνία, the phrase used in John 13:33, but παιδία, "young people," "lads" - a term of less intimate familiarity, though the apostle himself used it in 1 John 2:13, 18 (in vers. 1 and 12 τρεκνία is used, apparently in interchange with it). The μή τι suggests a negative answer. Προσφάγιον is that which is eaten with bread, and is commonly ὄψον or ὀψάριον, something roasted for the purpose of eating with bread. Since fish was very frequently used for the purpose, the word was often used for "fish" itself (LXX., Numbers 11:22; John 6.9, 11. Other equivalent words are found in Attic Greek, προσφάγημα, προσόψημα). Children (lads, young men yonder), you have nothing, I suppose, to eat? They answered him, No. In all this scene the risen Lord showed himself interested and co-operating with them in their daily toil, as engaged in the same work with them. Their listless manner showed that they had toiled in vain, and, perhaps with tone or gesture of unwillingness to confess their failure, they replied in the negative. Then he said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship; the side opposite to that on which they were dragging it along. Moreover, the "right hand," the "right eye," the "right ear," the "right side," are proverbially the more useful, fruitful, or honorable. The imagery is preserved throughout Scripture. And ye shall find. Therefore they cast it. And in order to do this they would probably have had to haul a considerable portion of it into the boat for the necessary transference from left to right. They at once obeyed the summons, remembering what they had previously found to have been their experience (Luke 5.), and no longer were they able, or had they strength, to draw it into the boat. Ἐλκύσαι, is here quite a different process from the σύροντες of ver. 8, which describes the hauling, tugging, of the net to shore. The difficulty arose from (or, because of) the multitude of the fishes. The miracle here is a simple indication of the higher knowledge which the Lord possessed. This huge shoal may, humanly speaking, have been perceived in its approach; so that the event is more impressive in its analogical force than in its supernatural machinery. It suggests the surprising results that would accompany their labor when they should under the Lord's own injunction and inspiration, become veritable fishers of men. The parabolic teaching of this miracle is unusually obvious.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Soοὖν (oun) Conjunction Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly. [He] Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites. called out λέγει (legei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. to them, αὐτοῖς (autois) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. “Children, Παιδία (Paidia) Noun - Vocative Neuter Plural Strong's 3813: Neuter diminutive of pais; a childling, i.e., an infant, or a half-grown boy or girl; figuratively, an immature Christian. do you have ἔχετε (echete) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold. any τι (ti) Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object. fish?” προσφάγιον (prosphagion) Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 4371: Neuter of a presumed derivative of a compound of pros and phago; something eaten in addition to bread, i.e. A relish. “No,” Οὔ (Ou) Adverb Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. they answered. Ἀπεκρίθησαν (Apekrithēsan) Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 611: From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak. Links John 21:5 NIVJohn 21:5 NLT John 21:5 ESV John 21:5 NASB John 21:5 KJV John 21:5 BibleApps.com John 21:5 Biblia Paralela John 21:5 Chinese Bible John 21:5 French Bible John 21:5 Catholic Bible NT Gospels: John 21:5 Jesus therefore said to them Children have (Jhn Jo Jn) |
    |